Inking mechanism for printing presses



Dec. 11, 1934. H. IRMSCHER 1,983,610

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Original Filed Sept. '23, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR flfl/vs lR/VSCHER ATTORNEYS Dec. '11, 1934.

H. lRMSCHER 1,983,610

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTTNGPRESSES Original Filed Sept. 23, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 11, 1934.

H. IRMSCHER INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING'PRESSES Original Filed Sept. 25, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Patented Dec. 1 1, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Hans Irmscher, New York, N. Y., assignor to Millie Patent Holding Co. Inc., New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Original application September 23, 1931, Serial No. 564,615. Divided and this application June 28, 1932, Serial No. 619,684

4 Claims.

The present application is a division of applicants copending application Ser. No. 564,615 for Printing machine filed September 23, 1931.

r The present invention relates to printing machines and embodies, more specifically, an improved form of printing machine which is adapted particularly for printing on one or both sides of a continuous band or tape. More specifically, the invention embodies an improved printing machine of the above character which is constructed to print, upon one or both sides of a band or tape, subject matter at spaced intervals, whereby tags bearing such subject matter may be stamped therefrom in subsequent operations.

In machines of this character now available, the ink feeding mechanisms afford adjustment of the rate of feed of the ink only with difficulty.

In order that a machine may be provided to overcome the foregoing, the present invention has 20 been designed and an object thereof is to provide a printing mechanism for printing suitable legends or indicia at spaced intervals upon a continuous band or tape, such mechanism being provided with an improved inking mechanism for 25 feeding ink to the printing elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved ink feeding mechanism for use in connection with printing machines of the above character.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in an ink feeding mechanism of the above character, means for varying the rate of the feed of the ink to the ink rollers in a desired fashion, such means being simple in construction and readily adjustable.

Further objects, not specifically enumerated above, will be apparent as the invention is described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

40 Figure 1 is a view in end elevation, showing a printing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the machine of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in section, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, the frame of a printing machine is shown at 1, a power shaft 2 and driving pulley 3 being mounted thereon. The overhanging end of the power shaft 2 is journaled in a bracket 4 as seen in Figure 1.

A countershaft 5 is journaled upon the frame and receives power from the shaft 2 by means of gears or other suitable driving mechanism.

The printing machine includes a reciprocableframe 6 which is journaled upon the frame 1 at '7. A head or carrier 8 is mounted upon the end of frame 6 and the frame and head are provided with downwardly extending arms 9 which are engaged by pitmans 10 which are journaled upon crank arms 11, eccentrically mounted upon heads 12, secured to the ends of countershaft 5. Rotation of shaft 5 thus reciprocates the head 8.

Ink rollers 13 are mounted upon a rotatable frame 14 upon which a sprocket 15 is secured. A suitable chain, indicated in dot and dash lines at 16 in Figure 2, engages the sprocket 15 and a driving sprocket 17 which is mounted upon the countershaft 5. An idler sprocket 18 is mounted upon the axis of the frame mounting 6 whereby arcuate movement of the arm or frame 6 is provided without disturbing the drive from the relatively stationary driving sprocket 17 to the movable sprocket 15. A take-up idler sprocket 19 is mounted upon the frame 1 to take up any slack in the driving chain. In this fashion, reciprocation of head 8 is effected simultaneously with the continuous rotation of the frame 14 which carries the inking rollers 13. Movement of the frame 6 is facilitated by means of spring arm 20 which is anchored at 21 to the frame of the machine and engages a fulcrum 22 mounted thereon. The end of arm 20 is connected to a rod 23 which is secured to the end of a substantially rigid arm 24, connected-on the frame 6. Movement of the frame 6 is thus yieldingly resisted and the spring 20 serves as a counterbalancing mechanism to relieve the driving means of the weight of the frame 6.

Upon the head 8, spaced cylindrical plates 25 are provided, the plates being equal in number to the number of ink wells 26 which are carried by the head. These plates serve as inking plates to distribute ink upon rollers 13, such rollers being carried by arms 27 which are journaled upon shafts 28, secured to the arms 14. Springs 29 normally urge the rollers 13 against the plates 25 and effect the inking of the rollers. This structure will be understood more fully from an inspection of Figure 3.

Upon the head 8 suitable type 30 are mounted, the type being clamped against a back plate 31 by means of a clamp 32 and screw 33. Spring 34 normally urges the clamp 32 away from the type 30 and pin 35 serves as a guide for the clamp to insure its proper engagement with the type 30.

The plates 25 are moved back and forth in a direction parallel to the axis of the head 8 by means of an axially movable rod 36, mounted upon the head 8 and provided with a plurality of pins 37 which are adapted to engage between spaced flanges 38, upon the interior of the plates 25. Axial movement is imparted to the shaft 36 by means of a link 36' which is journaled eccentrically upon a ratchet wheel 38 mounted upon a bracket 39 upon the frame 6. As the frame reciprocates, a pawl 40, mounted upon arm 41 which is pivoted upon the bracket 39, engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel and efiects rotation thereof, the reaction to such rotation being transmitted to the bracket 4 and stationary frame 1 through an arm 42 which is secured to the arm 41 and which is pivoted to a distance rod 43. The end of the distance rod 43 is anchored to the bracket 4 by means of suitable spacing nuts 44 and, in this fashion reciprocation of the frame 6 effects the gradual back and forth movement of the plates 25.

In order that a continuous supply of ink may be provided for the inking plates 25, a feed roller 45 is journaled adjacent each well 26 upon trunnions 47, arms 46 being formed upon sleeves 48 which are journaled upon the trunnions 4'7. Each roller 45 is provided with a ratchet wheel 49 which is engaged by a spring pressed pawl 50, pivoted upon the arm 46. As the frame 6 reciprocates, the ends of arms 46 engage stationary rollers 51 which are journaled upon arms 52, carried by cross members 53 which are mounted upon curved arms 54, secured to the frame of the machine 1. The take-up movement of the pawl 50 to engage subsequent teeth on the ratchet wheel 49 is effected by means of a spring 54 secured to the sleeve 48 and a pin 56 which is secured to the head 8.

Each well 26 is pivoted at 57 and is formed with a feeding edge 58 which is adapted to cooperate with. the feed roller 45. The side walls 59 of each well are provided with shoulders 60 which are engaged by set screws 61 to limit the movement of the edge 58 against the roller 45. Take-up screws 62 for each well are threaded in the head 8 and are adapted to engage the undersides of the respective wells, lock nuts 63 being provided to secure the elements in a desired position. It will thus be seen by suitable adjustment of the set screw 61 and screw 62, that the space between the edges 58 and rollers 45 may be varied to change the rate of feed of the ink from the wells 26 to the rollers 45.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a printing machine has been provided, wherein an improved inking mechanism has been embodied, the inking mechanism being of such character as to facilitate the adjustment of the ink feed, such adjustment being effected by simple operations which require comparatively little time.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited, save as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A printing machine comprising a frame, a carrier on the frame, an inking roller rotatably associated with the carrier, said carrier being formed with a recess forming an ink well, a bottom plate in the well, a feed roller in the well, means to advance the bottom plate against the feed roller, and means to limit the movement of the bottom plate toward the feed roller.

2. A printing machine comprising a frame, a carrier on the frame, an inking roller rotatably associated with the carrier, said carrier being formed with a recess forming an ink well, a feed roller, a bottom plate in the well, upwardly extending sides on the bottom plate, means to engage the bottom plate to advance the same against the feed roller, and a set screw engaging the upwardly extending sides to limit movement of the bottom plate toward the feed roller.

3. A printing machine comprising a frame, a carrier on the frame, an inking roller rotatably associated with the carrier, said carrier being formed with a recess forming an ink well, a feed roller in the well, an adjustable bottom plate in the Well cooperating with the feed roller, an inking plate on the carrier, a rod on the carrier, means to move the rod axially, and means to connect the inking plate to the rod.

4. A printing machine comprising a frame, a carrier on the frame, an inking roller rotatably associated with the carrier, said carrier being formed with a recess forming an ink well, a feed roller in the well, an adjustable bottom plate in the well cooperating with the feed roller, an inking plate on the carrier, a rod on the carrier, means to move the rod axially, a ratchet wheel on the carrier, a link pivoted to the rod and wheel, means to connect the rod and inking plate, and means to engage the ratchet wheel intermittently.

HANS IRMSCHER. 

